Need some insight on endocrine therapy or not

[BarbH]

Hi everyone,

I am 46 years old and I will celebrate 4 years on 14 Feb. At 42, I had a lumpectomy, dense-dose treatments A/C and taxol, radiation, tried tamoxifen (elevated liver enzymes), took Zoladex shots combined with Aromatase Inhibitor until Mar 1, 2005 when I underwent surgical removal of my ovaries. Have not maintained a standard 5 year endocrine adjuvant therapy route, because of so many different problems. A few months ago I started taking an AI inhibitor and had my cholestrol checked and it was 280! I never had high cholestrol and wonder if it is not the lack of estrogen and the drugs. Anyway, I am struggling with the idea of taking an AI since the main source of estrogen is cut-off. I know it is an added precaution, but wonder why they don't monitor estrogen levels in the body while we are on these AI inhibitors. Is this even something to consider? I am finally starting to feel somewhat normal - with the help of Zoloft, Boniva, Synthroid, and Anti-anxiety stuff. Does anyone else deal with this, or have any experience? Oh, and I forgot to mention, I also had a year of preventative herceptin treatments (finished 1 Sep 06) because I am ER+/PR+/HER2NU+, Stage IIIB.